Clever Daw Suu hitting the pride of Kaisu Singaporeans

Upon being briefed that Singapore’s education system was “workforce-oriented”, Suu Kyi, 68, said: “That made me think, what is work all about? What are human beings for? What are human lives about?”

Her departing words shook Singaporeans who had been led to believe in the superiority of the Singaporean development model for less developed countries.

“I think we have much to offer you, come and find out,” Suu Kyi said.

“Perhaps Singapore could learn from us on how to have a more relaxed way of life.”

Aung San Suu Kyi has stunned Singaporeans with her answers and fresh perspective during her recent trip to the republic.

Although she carefully observed diplomatic niceties, the revered Nobel Peace laureate was frank about what she liked and disliked about Singapore.

During her final press conference, she was asked the familiar question of what she saw in Singapore that she might like to recreate in Myanmar.

She replied, “I don’t think ‘recreate’ is the word, ‘learn’ yes.”

If the host had hoped that she would cite Singapore as a role model, they were disappointed.

Her country, she said, would not want copy the city’s materialistic and high pressure living that had come with its affluence.

Her comments actually reflected a public complaint here that the government accords higher priority to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rather than the people’s welfare.

[Kiasu (Chinese: 驚輸; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kiaⁿ-su) is a Hokkien and Singlish word that literally means ‘fear of losing’ (Vernacular Chinese: 怕输). However its actual usage would imply a meaning more approaching that of “dog in a manger“, and yet not quite (Landon Mossburg). Examples of kiasu behaviour includes accumulating too much food on one’s plate during a buffet lunch in case there is no more food later or joining a queue many days in advance just to ensure that one successfully gets hold of the limited free tickets to events, promotions and shows such as Singapore’s annual National Day Parade. Wikipedia]

Years before Myanmar’s political changes came about, the republic had been sucking up to the military leaders even though they were suppressing her movements – principally for economic reasons.

They are now making up to the opposition.

Since time immemorial, foreign policy here has always been an extension of international trade and investment.

Founding leader Lee Kuan Yew once said: “We will trade even with the devil for our survival.”

Like many governments, the leaders here failed to correctly read the determination and prospect of Suu Kyi and her people’s revolution against the powerful military.

Singapore’s older leaders, who were ideologically of a different mould from Suu Kyi, had made remarks about her that they would probably rather not have made with hindsight.

Goh Chok Tong, for example, had said that Suu Kyi could not provide a solution to Myanmar’s problems because she was part of the problem.

And former prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, once said it was better for her to stay at home than to interfere in politics.

“There is only one instrument of government and that is the army … If I were Aung San Suu Kyi, I think I’d rather be behind a fence and be a symbol than after two or three years, be found impotent,” he added.

To his credit, the current prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, adopted a different attitude.

Instead of running down the lady’s capability, he threw his support behind her declared candidacy for president in the 2015 election.

Suu Kyi will be a “capable” president if she gets elected, Hsien Loong said, and Singapore will be there to help Myanmar economically if the need arises.

That provided the salvation point to Singapore’s future friendly ties with her if she gains the leadership.

The foreign policy of Singapore, being a small country, has generally been to avoid getting caught between two big conflicting forces.

Suu Kyi’s diplomatic weaving around the past slights here last week was a good lesson for Singaporeans.

None of this, however, has affected the gathering business momentum between the two countries.

Ko Ko Gyi >>>Yes…She always answer with the lame excuse of No Rule of Law on Atrocities inflicted on Muslims of Myanmar. She failed to mention that Bama and Rakhine authorities are using UNJUST, unfair and one sided application of the Laws on Muslims i.e. Rule by Law.